Malkin leads Penguins to victory
With Evgeni Malkin doing his best Mario Lemieux impression, even a healthy Kimmo Timonen might not have made a difference. The Flyers probably needed an in-his-prime Bobby Clarke, and maybe more, to stop this.
Malkin scored two dazzling goals 5 minutes apart to give Pittsburgh a two-goal lead after Sidney Crosby tied it, and the Penguins rode their two big stars to a 4-2 victory over Philadelphia in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night in Pittsburgh.
“We knew we had a special group here, and a young group that just needed to get experience. We’re still learning a lot,” Crosby said.
The Penguins also showed a lot – speed, talent, even grit – and won their ninth in 10 playoff games to grab the series lead going into Game 2 on Sunday night. Three more wins, and they’ll play for their first Stanley Cup title since 1992.
Malkin, who is only 21 but is the leading scorer in the playoffs with 17 points following a three-point night, scored with 6.5 seconds left in the first period with a tired Flyers line on the ice to put Pittsburgh up 3-2.
The pivotal goal blunted much of the momentum the Flyers gained by briefly taking a 2-1 lead on Mike Richards’ two goals.
“You turn pucks over and give up rushes against Crosby and Malkin, that’s a game you can’t play,” Flyers coach John Stevens said.
Malkin’s first career short-handed goal, on a breakaway created by Sergei Gonchar’s end-to-end pass early in the second, was the crusher for the Flyers, who didn’t do much on offense after that despite taking 28 shots against goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Malkin missed his initial short-handed attempt before being leveled behind the net by Richards. Malkin got up and began skating toward the Penguins’ zone. Before he got there, Marian Hossa knocked the puck loose from Danny Briere, allowing Gonchar to sail it back down the ice to Malkin for a slap shot between the hash marks that flew past Martin Biron before he could react.
Philadelphia also lost the opener in its first two playoff series.
Around the league
Left wing Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings and right wing Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers were selected as finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. … Swedish free agent Fabian Brunnstrom signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars. … Goaltender Olie Kolzig has confirmed that he will not return as a member of the Washington Capitals next season.